Links

The third season of the Bective Abbey Project began in glorious sunshine. Co-directors Geraldine Stout and Matthew Stout welcomed some old members of the team and some new. After an introductory talk on the hopes and dreams for this season (and the obligatory health and safety warnings) the team ran onto the field to take their places in Cutting H. Cutting H is located to the west of last year’s cutting where we found part of a medieval building and a corn drying kiln. It is our fondest desire that we will find more of this medieval building and further evidence for Cistercian farming. Kevin O’Brien (OPW) has begun work on the west range with his able assistant Lorna Lacey (fresh from Bolton Street). We also welcomed our environmentalist to the site. Susan Lyons will be at Bective for the full month analyising the rich harvest of seeds and grains from last year’s dig. The top soil is already producing medieval floor tiles, plough pebbles, brown and black wares and animal bones. Like earlier years, we will have to work our way through the tenacious stoney layer to get to sealed medieval deposits.

Meath County Council have funded a four part podcast series on the excavations. Podcast producer Nóra Stout set up her ‘confession-loo’ so members of the team can express their views on the excavation in private.

The fine weather brought many visitors to Bective Abbey including Ruth Lawler (President of the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society), a very enthusiastic group from Seoul in South Korea, and Professor Paddy Duffy (emeritus, NUI Maynooth), now of Trim town.

Geraldine Stout cuts the ceremonial first sod to start the 2011 season of excavations at Bective Abbey

A well-earned cup of tea in the glorious sunshine!

Ruth Lawler, president of the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, was our first distinguished visitor to the site. To her left is Oisin Mc Namara who just completed his first year at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra.

Visitors from South Korea were very enthusiastic about the excavations and the abbey.